The last duel so far in 2018 at the ATP Finals in London, Thiem won 6: 1 6: 4. In the same year the Lichtenwörther had prevailed in the French Open round of 16 with 6: 2 6: 0 5: 7 6: 4. Thiem lost the Vienna quarter-finals in 2018 against the Japanese 3: 6 1: 6. Nishikori’s two other victories date from 2016 (Rome) and 2015 (Halle).
“Nishikori is a tough lot, but of course that was to be expected. The grid is a completely different league, ”said Thiem. He hadn’t seen his first opponent play for a long time. Nishikori was injured recently and is playing with a “protected ranking”.
Nishikori is “a real champion”
His trainer Nicolas Massu will watch videos from the last tournaments of Nishikori. “He’s a real champion, of course, crazy player. I hope, of course, that it is currently not in the shape it was two or three years ago. But I’ll make sure that I still have a few good preparatory training sessions and that I’ll be fully there on Tuesday.
If the world number three masters the first round, there could be a duel with the Swiss Stan Wawrinka. The three-time Grand Slam winner, with whom Thiem last trained in Traiskirchen, competes against the Chilean Cristian Garin at the beginning. Thiem’s first possible opponent in the quarter-finals would be Russian Andrej Rublew (5).
Up-and-coming young stars in the Thiem district
“Programmed” semi-final opponent would also be a Russian with Daniil Medvedev seeded as number four. In the Rasterviertel of the Lower Austrian there are also two other up-and-coming young stars who meet in the first round: 19-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner (ATP-46.), Who thanks to wildcard can serve in the town hall, and 21-year-old Norwegian Casper Ruud (ATP-26th). The latter celebrated his first ATP tournament victory this year in Buenos Aires.
“It was clear that every match would be a very strong one. I notice the balance. It’s not a match where you say there are now two tournament favorites against each other, “said tournament boss Herwig Straka and said about the draw of his protégé:” Dominic’s quarter is strong. With Nishikori, possibly Wawrinka second round, Rublew, Sinner, that’s already a quarter in which he has to fight hard. “
Novak gegen Anderson, Rodionov gegen Shapovalov
The other Austrians who are in the field thanks to wild cards are outsiders in their matches: Dennis Novak is playing for the first time against the Vienna winner 2018, the South African Kevin Anderson. Jurij Rodionov will also meet the number eight seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov for the first time. Incidentally, the two are almost the same age, Shapovalov is around a month older, both are 21.
“He’s one of the most dangerous players on the tour. That said, I’ll play 110 percent, give my last shirt, and try to make everyone proud. I’m really looking forward to the match ”, said Rodionov, who was“ really happy ”about the main field wildcard. “This is a huge opportunity,” said the Lower Austrian. Given the strong field of participants, he would be “against any outsider according to the paper”, not just against Shapovalov.
“Rodionov against Shapovalov is certainly an interesting match in terms of the playing field, and Novak against Anderson – you don’t know with Anderson, he was injured for a long time. For Dennis, if he has the chance to keep the ball in play, it is quite possible, ”was Straka’s assessment of these Austrian games.
Djokovic starts against compatriot Krajinovic
Superstar Novak Djokovic, who is playing in the city hall for the first time since his Vienna title in 2007, will start in his third competition against his Serbian compatriot Filip Krajinovic. On the way to the hoped-for dream final of numbers one and three in the world between the 17-time major winner Djokovic and Austria’s Grand Slam champion Thiem, the Serb would still have to Diego Schwartzman (ARG / 6) and then the “normal” course as number three seeded Greeks remove Stefanos Tsitsipas from the way.
After Matteo Berrettini (ITA / ATP tenth), Milos Raonic (CAN / ATP-19th) and David Goffin (BEL / ATP-14th) canceled, Taylor Fritz (USA), Hubert Hurkacz (POL) and Jan-Lennard slipped Struff (GER) in the main competition. This means that there are officially six top ten players in the competition, Nishikori (currently 36th) enters the tournament with a “protected ranking” of ten. The Japanese has been struggling with an elbow injury for a year and had an operation on his right elbow a year ago.
Austrian duel in doubles
In the double competition there is a duel between two Austrians in the first round. Jürgen Melzer and his French partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin meet Oliver Marach and the British Daniel Evans. Melzer / Roger-Vasselin come to Vienna as the new St. Petersburg winners. For the 39-year-old Melzer it was the 17th double title on the ATP tour.
Thiem and his close friend Novak are fighting against Britons Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski for promotion to the quarter-finals. The two had already reached the final in Kitzbühel in 2016. For Thiem it will be his first double appearance on the tour this year.
ATP 500 tournament in Vienna
(Austria, 1,550,950 euros, indoor, hard court)
